In February of 2011, Ms. AA was arrested while driving on a suspended license in violation of probation. She was transferred to ICE custody following the completion of her sentence. Ms. AA faces removal from the United States because she has a conviction for unauthorized used of a motor vehicle with a sentence of 5 years suspended from February of 2003, and for three failed drug tests in violation of her probation from 2006, 2009 and 2010.

This pro bono opportunity will require representing Ms. AA in applying for Cancellation of Removal for Certain Permanent Residents before the Arlington Immigration Court.  Ms. AA is eligible for this form of relief if (1) she has been continuously present after a lawful admission, for seven years; (2) she has been a permanent resident for at least five years; (3) she has not been convicted of an aggravated felony; and (4) she merits a favorable exercise of discretion.  Her positive equities include her long period of permanent residence in the United States as well her significant family ties. Ms. AA’s parents are both naturalized US citizens, and she has two US citizen children, aged 8 and 5. Additionally, Ms. AA fears returning to Jordan because of her Catholic faith, the highly visible tattoos on her arms and legs, and the fact that she had children out of wedlock. In the alternative, Ms. AA is also eligible for Withholding of Removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture, fear-based forms of relief.

Ms. AA speaks English.  She is detained at Farmville Detention Center, which is roughly 3 hours away from Washington, D.C. CAIR Coalition has a Video-Teleconferencing System which allows attorneys to communicate with detained clients via televideo from our office in DC.  CAIR Coalition is also available to assist in visiting the client at the jail.

Our Legal Director, Liz McGrail and Staff Attorney, Claudia Cubas are both available to mentor the pro bono attorney in this case.  Please contact Claudia Cubas at (202) 331-3320, ext. 22 if you are interested in taking this case.

Mr. BS was born in Suriname in 1962, before the colony gained its independence from the Netherlands. He was initially ordered deported on June 10, 1998. Mr. BS has been in ICE detention before in 2007, and again in 2009. He was transferred to ICE custody in June of 2011 after being convicted for drug distribution in Winchester, VA in February of 2011.

ICE has not been able to execute Mr. BS’ removal because the Embassy of Suriname and the Embassy of Netherlands have refused or been unable to issue travel documents.

Mr. BS has been cooperative with requests from ICE officials regarding his case. He has spoken to the Netherlands Embassy on several occasions from July of 2011 to December of 2011 and even completed a passport request in Dutch although he does not speak the language. BS has a U.S. citizen mother and daughter who are willing to write support letters on his behalf.

Mr. BS speaks English and is being detained at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail, which is roughly 3.5 hours away from Washington, D.C. CAIR Coalition has a Video-Teleconferencing System which allows attorneys to communicate with detained clients via televideo from our office in DC.  CAIR Coalition is also available to assist in visiting the client at the jail.

Our Legal Director, Liz McGrail, will serve as the primary mentor on this case.

Please contact our Legal Director, Liz McGrail at (202) 331-3320, ext. 20 if you are interested in taking this case.

As an ABC class member, C-A qualifies for cancellation of removal pursuant to Section 203 of NACARA. Cancellation of Removal under NACARA is similar to cancellation of removal for permanent residents in that it requires seven years of continuous physical presence, good moral character, and a showing of extreme hardship. As an ABC class member, C-A is presumed to meet the extreme hardship requirement. Additionally, C-A has three children with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and has been a hardworking individual all his life while in the United States.

C-A, however, has a drinking problem and so he has accrued several DUI/DWI convictions, an assault conviction possibly related to domestic violence, and was recently arrested for violating a protection order. It is unknown if he was actually convicted of violating this order.

This pro bono opportunity would entail representing C-A in Immigration Court, filing his application for relief under NACARA, preparing C-A to testify in support of his application, presenting witnesses to attest to C-A’s good moral character and submitting evidence of equities in his favor such as employment history & tax records.  The pro bono attorney would also need to prepare a brief in support of the application with a focus on arguing that C-A’s criminal history does no preclude a finding of good moral character. An alcohol-abuse rehabilitation plan would be necessary in this case as well.

Claudia Cubas, our LOP staff attorney will mentor the pro bono attorney on this case.  If you are interested, please call Claudia directly at (202) 331-3320, ext. 22.

DHS has initiated removal proceedings against OTC because he was convicted on February 11, 2011, in Stafford County, VA of burglary (5 years sentence) and simple assault by a mob (12 months sentence).  In addition, OTC has convictions for trespassing (2003) and an earlier simple assault by a mob (2007).

OTC appears eligible for Adjustment of Status with a Refugee Waiver, and in the alternative protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). OTC has a U.S. citizen daughter who is seven years old and a US citizen mother who is willing to support OTC with his immigration case.

OTC speaks English and is being detained at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail, which is roughly 3.5 hours away from Washington, D.C. CAIR Coalition has a Video-Teleconferencing System which allows attorneys to communicate with detained clients via televideo from our office in DC.  CAIR Coalition is also available to assist in visiting the client at the jail.

Our Legal Director, Liz McGrail and Staff Attorney, Claudia Cubas are both available to mentor the pro bono attorney in this case.  Please contact Claudia Cubas at (202) 331-3320, ext. 22 if you are interested in taking this case.

Six months before WH came to the United States he was arrested by Cairo police at a checkpoint because of his sexual orientation.  The police beat him with a metal pipe, lacerated his face, and held his fingers in boiling water.  WH was arrested and beaten a number of other times by police because of his sexual orientation.  Three months before WH came to the United States he was arrested as a college student in Cairo for protesting against the Mubarak government.  The police forced him to disrobe and proceeded to rape and beat him and inflict electrical shocks to his naked body.

WH still carries physical scars from his torture.  He has scars on his fingers where they were boiled, near his eye where he was cut, and on his leg.

Although the Egyptian government has undergone recent fundamental changes there is no evidence whatsoever that treatment of homosexuals will improve.  The Muslim Brotherhood, the largest political group in Egypt still condemns homosexuality.  The Muslim Brotherhood is expected to gain wide control of the Egyptian Parliament through its associated Freedom and Justice Party following the 2011 parliamentary election.

This pro bono opportunity will require assisting WH in applying for protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT).  He is not eligible for withholding or asylum because of his criminal convictions.

WH speaks English.  He is detained at Hampton Roads Regional Jail, which is roughly three hours away from Washington, D.C. CAIR Coalition has a Video-Teleconferencing System which allows attorneys to communicate with detained clients via televideo from our office in DC.  CAIR Coalition is also available to assist in visiting the client at the jail.

Please contact our Staff Attorney, Amar Nair at (202) 331-3320, ext. 16 if you are interested in taking this case.

LB reports that he left Ghana for the United States because his life was in danger at the hands of the Land Guards, groups which have been known to operate as violent criminal gangs.  LB had given information to the police which had led to the arrests of members of the Land Guards who had killed two police officers.  When LB was identified as the informant, he was targeted by the Land Guards, who kidnapped and beat him severely on three occasions.  The Land Guards told LB that they would kill him if he did not leave town.

LB also indicates that he had been sexually abused as a child by an uncle.  When LB spoke out about the abuse he had suffered, his uncle retaliated by poisoning him, as a result of which LB spent over a week in the hospital.

LB reports that these experiences caused him to have a “mental breakdown.”  He has been treated in the United States since 2005 for his mental health conditions.  Prior to this year, his only criminal convictions were for two DWI offenses in 2004 and 2005.

LB is currently in removal proceedings in the Baltimore Immigration Court.  He entered immigration custody after being convicted in 2011 on theft and credit card fraud charges.  The convictions arose from incidents during which LB was hearing voices.

This pro bono opportunity will involve assisting LB in applying for withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture.  The pro bono attorney will represent LB in Immigration Court by preparing and submitting the application with supporting documentation and preparing witnesses to testify on his behalf.  LB has a fiancée, an uncle, and two cousins – all of whom are U.S. citizens – who may be willing to support him in his application.

LB speaks English, Ga, and Akan. He is detained at the Worcester County Detention Center in Snow Hill, Maryland, which is roughly three hours from Washington, D.C.  CAIR Coalition has a video-conferencing system which allows attorneys to communicate with detained clients at a number of local facilities via televideo from our office in Washington, D.C. While the Worcester County Detention Center is not currently included among these facilities we are working to try to get it included as soon as possible.  CAIR Coalition may also be available to assist in visiting the client at the detention center.

Please contact our Equal Justice Works Fellow Stephen Dekovich at (202) 331-3320 ext. 13 if you are interested in taking this case.

MB is facing removal because he was convicted of an aggravated felony. In April of 2011 he pled guilty to distribution of oxycodone and distribution of marijuana. He also has several other convictions including misdemeanor possession of marijuana, embezzlement of less than $200, and misdemeanor trespassing.

In addition to his grandmother in Ethiopia, MB has multiple friends and family members who are responsive and eager to help in any way they can. His fiancé, grandfather, sister and several other family members are all U.S. citizens.

This pro bono opportunity will require assisting MB in applying for protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT).  The Department of Homeland Security has re-opened MB’s case from 2006 and is seeking to terminate his asylum status because of his prior convictions.  MB’s case is pending before Judge Iskra.

This case may also involve post-conviction relief under Padilla because MB was not advised about the immigration consequences of pleading guilty to controlled substance distribution charges.  The case may also involve a mandamus action in Federal Court in the Eastern District of Virginia.

MB speaks English and is being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at an  ICE detention facility in Farmville, Virginia.

Please contact our Staff Attorney, Amar Nair at (202) 331-3320, ext. 16 if you are interested in taking this case.

In 2007, GH’s father, who was king, died. GH fled Cameroon because he believes they will make him king in his father’s stead and will then attempt to kill him.

GH is facing removal because he entered without inspection. He entered the United States as a stowaway on a ship. He was apprehended on the ship by the captain and held in the ship detention before being transferred to ICE custody. Upon transfer to ICE custory, GH refused to return to Cameroon because he feared for his life.

This pro bono opportunity will involve assisting GH apply for asylum only (as a stowaway, he is not eligible for withholding or protection under CAT). He does not yet have a hearing date scheduled.

GH speaks French. He is detained at Rappahannock Region Jail, which is roughly 1.5 hours away from Washington, D.C. CAIR Coalition has a Video-Teleconferencing System which allows attorneys to communicate with detained clients via televideo from our office in DC.  CAIR Coalition is also available to assist in visiting the client at the jail.

Please contact our Staff Attorney, Amar Nair at (202) 331-3320, ext. 16 if you are interested in taking this case.

As an ABC class member, C-A qualifies for cancellation of removal pursuant to Section 203 of NACARA. Cancellation of Removal under NACARA is similar to cancellation of removal for permanent residents in that it requires seven years of continuous physical presence, good moral character, and a showing of extreme hardship. As an ABC class member, C-A is presumed to meet the extreme hardship requirement.

C-A has three children with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and has been a hardworking individual all his life while in the United States. C-A, however, has a drinking problem and so has accrued several DUI/DWI convictions, including an assault conviction from1998. . Although these convictions should not preclude C-A from applying for NACARA, it makes the need for a rehabilitation plan a must for his case. C-A is willing to submit to an intense alcohol-dependency program and his adult children are willing to assist him with this as well as testifying on his behalf in court.  In addition, CAIR Coalition has a social work intern who can assist pro bono counsel in locating suitable treatment programs.

This pro bono opportunity would entail representing C-A in Immigration Court, filing his application for relief under NACARA, preparing C-A to testify in support of his application, presenting witnesses to attest to C-A’s good moral character and submitting evidence of equities in his favor such as employment history & tax records.  The pro bono attorney would also need to prepare a brief in support of the application with a focus on arguing that C-A’s criminal history does no preclude a finding of good moral character.

Claudia Cubas, our LOP staff attorney will mentor the pro bono attorney on this case.  If you are interested, please call Claudia directly at (202) 331-3320, ext. 22.

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